A project combining researchers and farmers 

This will improve the production methods of farmers who are in direct collaboration with the researchers on the project. “We have created an internet platform where the farmer can register and supply data about his production. He can mark out the boundaries of his field on a satellite image background, state the crop type he has planted (corn, winter wheat or potatoes, for example), and indicate the planting date as well as the doses of applied fertilizer or any other information relative to the crop development”, explains Joost Wellens. This cooperation is essential because, according to the researcher “the more data we have, the more reliable our prediction tools will be and the better the advice we will be able to offer farmers”. 

The latter are informed about the profitability of their yields, for example, as compared with the region’s average produdctions. If necessary, recommendations could be given enabling them to increase their productivity. 

Graphic simulating the foliose cover - Aquacorp software

Tools available to everyone 

In terms of results, the tool appears to be efficient. The project researchers found a correlation between the crop yield observed on the ground and that simulated by the software with an error of 1.6 tons per hectare for corn (in dry matter), and 0.9 tons per hectare (dry matter) for winter wheat and potatoes. “Between now and the end of the project, in 2019, we hope to be able to reduce this error. And in order to do this, we need to convince more farmers to share their data online”.

The other part of the project that needs to be further improved in the future is the “detection of anomalies”. “Our prediction models are effective when we find ourselves in what can be called “normal” situations. But what interests the farmer most of all, is what will happen to his yield in case of problems such as drought or heavy rain, for example. More research on this subject needs to be conducted”, admits Joost Wellens. In the long run, the team hopes that these tools will be used by all the Belgian pilot centers that currently offer advice to farmers. “If possible, we will try to create towards the end of the project a free application that can be used by the entire agricultural sector”, concludes the scientist.